Top photo: More than 200 singers, including members of Trenton’s The LOTUS Chorale, filled the stage at Carnegie Hall June 28 with the New England Symphonic Ensemble for a performance of Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem.”
After much “practice, practice, practice,” several musicians from around the Diocese had a thrilling opportunity to sing in Carnegie Hall June 28 for a performance of Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem,” sung by more than 200 vocalists from five choirs.
More than 40 participating members of The LOTUS Chorale of Trenton, directed by Alicia Brozovich, included her husband Colton Martin, who serves as director of sacred music in St. Dominic Parish, Brick, and fellow parish musicians Keith Sturzione and Mary Bogan; Michael Mitrano, Rebecca Jacobsen and Mary Giovannoli, musicians in St. James Parish, Pennington, and The Monitor’s contributing editor EmmaLee Italia, musician in St. Paul Parish, Princeton.
Additional choirs included members of Greater South Jersey Chorus, Glassboro; PhilHarmonia, Phila.; and The Episcopal Cathedral of St. John and Bosque School Cantate, both Albuquerque, N.M.
Produced by MidAmerica Productions, which provides performing opportunities for ensembles in New York City and worldwide, the choristers were accompanied by The New England Symphonic Ensemble and conducted by Maxine Thévenot, director of the participating St. John chorale.
“It was completely unreal to take the stage where so many artists have performed throughout history,” Italia said. “It was a bucket list item I never anticipated would be on mine!”
Duruflé’s “Requiem,” Op. 9, was commissioned in 1947 in France and written for his father. Incidentally, Duruflé and his wife, the renowned organist Marie-Madeleine Duruflé, visited New Jersey in March 1971. During this visit, Duruflé personally conducted his Requiem, Op. 9 at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Trenton.
Brozovich noted that The LOTUS Chorale will likely perform the Requiem again locally in the near future, after so much preparation and rehearsal.
Other works in the June 28 performance included James Q. Mulholland’s “Missa Romantica,” led by Jeanne Wohlgamuth; Joseph M. Martin’s “The Awakening” and David Dickau’s “If Music be the Food of Love,” led by Ryan Koo. Participating choruses were Princeton Girlchoir of Westrick Music Academy; The Elm City Girls Choir and United Girls Choir, both New Haven, Conn.; Athena Women’s Chorus of Los Angeles, Calif.; and New World Singers and Presto Choir, Columbus, Ohio. The concert also featured the Classic City Band of New York in the Ensemble Spotlight Series, conducted by Michael Brewer.
